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October 2026 | |
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Adult Services Notes |
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Refresh Your Genre Knowledge Series |
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Understanding genres is a crucial readers' advisory skill. Knowing the key genre appeals can help you connect with readers, even in genres that you don't find appealing yourself. Presentations will cover:
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Defining the genre and why readers enjoy it
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Exploring key authors and up and coming writers, and
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Discussing how to connect with readers Join us to learn how you can support your community of readers as we close out our 7-part series on genre fiction.
Register for this month's sessions below. |
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Join Sarah Skrobis, Director of the Staunton Public Library, to explore the world of thrillers and suspense novels.
| When: Tuesday 10/13, 1 pm ET |
| Register |
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Join Jennifer Rothschild, Collection Engagement Librarian at Arlington Public Library, on a trip through historical fiction.
| When: Tuesday 10/27, 1 pm ET |
| Register |
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News from Library Development
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Crucial Conversations FY27 Schedule |
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Have you ever found yourself in a difficult conversation and not known how to make it successful? Since 2023, Library Development staff, along with Clint Rudy from Suffolk PL, have helped over 250 Virginia library staff members learn how to have more productive conversations when the stakes and emotions are running high.
With both virtual and in-person sessions, Crucial Conversations training equips participants with a powerful set of skills to identify, assess, and engage in difficult conversations that can affect individual and organizational success.
The Library of Virginia covers the cost of the course and materials, valued at $2,195 per person. |
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Here is some of what we have heard from participants:
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“As a result of this training, I have started engaging more honestly with colleagues and setting clear boundaries of my department.”
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“This was one of the most valuable lessons I’ve had. I used it as soon as I left the training.”
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“2 days post training I am already finding I am putting some of the lessons into practice.”
If you are interested in participating in Crucial Conversations training, check out the schedule using the button below and see if one of the sessions might work for you.
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Magzter Digital Magazines |
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Every five years or so, the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) does site visits to state library agencies to look at how the federal funding that IMLS distributes through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is being used and to talk to both LSTA project managers and others at the state library as well as library stakeholders in the public libraries of that state.
LVA had a site visit from IMLS in September, and I was able to tag along when we did the library visits. During that time, I was delighted to hear the library staff talk about the value that the Magzter digital magazine collection brought to their libraries.
There were a few comments that I thought might be helpful for other libraries in terms of thinking about how you can promote Magzter. |
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One library staff member mentioned that they had heard from patrons how much they valued the breadth of quilting magazines, especially those with patterns. A quick look in Magzter turned up nine titles from the US and the UK on quilting of all sorts. A search for knitting and crochet magazines pulled up a similar number of titles, including titles in Spanish, all with a variety of patterns and ideas for crafters both new and experienced.
With the growing popularity of all sorts of fiber arts, this is a great opportunity to promote Magzter to a niche community that is probably already using your print collection, but may not be aware of the digtal resources that Magzter provides for crafters.
Another comment reported library user interest in the titles in Magzter from Great Britain. The newspaper category includes UK papers such as The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer, and lots more. And there are many other titles in Magzter from the UK to explore.
We also heard about the value of Magzter content in languages other thank English. The most commonly spoken non-English languages in Virginia are Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Korean. You can search the collection using any of those terms to pull up titles in those languages or browse a category and limit by language. This is a great opportunity to expand your reach to non-English-speaking segments of you library community.
Fall is a great time to think about new ways to get your library's great digital resources into your users hands (and devices). If you have found new and interesting ways to share Magzter or other digital content, please reach out to Barry about wrting something up for the newsletter.
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October is Virginia Archives Month |
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October is American Archives Month and the Library of Virginia is excited to celebrate its archival collections and resources and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage in order to more clearly understand our history.
This year's LVA theme, “Remember Me: Death and Memorial in the Archives,” explores cemetery registers, photographs, rolls of honor, and funeral programs in the library's archives to examine how we remember those who have gone before us. |
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During Virginia Archives Month, LVA will host a variety of in-person and virtual events that will look at cemeteries, tombstone carvers, funeral homes, and even ghosts. There are also several opportunities to take part in an Archives Month Tour of the Library of Virginia. Use the button below to get the details on all the great Archives Month happenings at LVA and at other archives around the state as well as guides to resources in the library's collections and an assortment of images of archival material documenting places of death, memory, and memorial.
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Strong Men and Women in VA History Contest |
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2024 Library of Virginia’s Strong Men & Women in Virginia History finalists with representatives from Dominion Energy (l.) and the Library of Virginia (r.).
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The Library of Virginia’s Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Creative Expressions contest, sponsored by Dominion Energy, is now open! Encourage high school students to enter for a chance to win an Apple MacBook Air and $1,000 for their school. Submissions can be performance pieces, digital projects, or creative writing works.
The contest deadline is Nov. 15, 2026.
Find this year's prompt and submission information. |
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Readers' Advisory Tips and Tricks
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Exploring NoveList's
Readers' Advisory Competencies |
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In May 2026, NoveList released a set of competencies for readers' advisory work. This resource will:
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Support individual professional growth
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Guide organizational training and expectations
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Provide a shared vocabulary for readers’ advisory work |
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These competencies give readers' advisors at any level of proficiency some guidance on how to expand their RA knowledge and build connections with readers. Over the next few months this column will explore some of the specific competencies and look at ways to develop skills in those areas.
This month, we will look at Competency 1: Advisory Philosophy and Strategy. This area focuses on the foundations and principles that drive readers' advisory work and that connect it to the work of practitioners. While perhaps not as exciting as connecting one-on-one with a reader or developing a great display that circulates dozens of titles, this competency outlines an essential part of becoming a successful readers' advisor. It lays out the "why" piece, giving advisors an understanding of how readers experience stories, and how to think about talking with them. With this understanding, we become more empathetic to readers' interests and can more easily ascertain what sort of reader they are and what sort of story will be of interest to them now.
This type of knowledge also makes us better readers, giving insight into what pulls us into a story at a given time. It can be a great help in getting out of those reading ruts that all readers find themselves in occasionally.
Here are some resources to get you started exploring the theory and history of RA services and research about readers.
Books
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Dilevko, Juris and Candice F. C. Magowan. Reader's Advisory Service in North America Public Libraries 1870–2005: A History and Critical Analysis. McFarland, 2007.
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Ross, Catherine Sheldrick, Lynne E. F. McKechnie, and Paulette M. Rothbauer. Reading Matters: What the Research Reveals About Reading, Libraries, and Community. Libraries Unlimited: Greenwood, 2006.
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Ross, Catherine Sheldrick, Lynne E. F. McKechnie, and Paulette M. Rothbauer. Reading Still Matters: What the Research Reveals About Reading, Libraries, and Community. Libraries Unlimited: Bloomsbury, 2018.
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Saricks, Joyce. Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library (3rd ed.), Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.
- Shearer, Kenneth D. & Robert Burgin.The Reader's Advisor's Companion. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2001.
Articles
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Crowley, Bill. "Readers' Advisory: Differing Mental Models and the Futures of Libraries, Librarians, and Readers’ Advisory" RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Experience [Online], Volume 55 Number 2 (16 December 2015).
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Dali Keren, Vannier C., Douglass L. 2020. "Reading experience librarianship: working with readers in the 21st century". Journal of Documentation, Vol. 77 No. 1.
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Hollands, Neil. 2006. "Improving the Model for Interactive Readers' Advisory Service". Reference & User Services Quarterly 45 (3): 205-212.
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“Readers’ Advisory - Flash in the Pan or Here to Stay?” 2008. Booklist 104 (21): 12. EBSCOhost.
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Smith, Duncan. "Readers’ Advisory: The Who, the How, and the Why" RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Experience [Online], Volume 54 Number 4 (19 June 2015).
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Smith, Duncan, Victoria Fredrick, and Autumn Friedli. 2022. “Engaging Readers.” Library Journal 147 (3): 34–38. EBSCOhost.
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Trott, Barry. "Helen E. Haines: A Life With Books" RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Experience, 50 (1) (4 August 2011).
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Wyatt, Neal. 2026. “Readers’ Advisory Service in the Pages of Library Journal.” Library Journal 151 (9): 66–77. EBSCOhost.
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Wyatt, Neal. "Readers' Advisory: We Owe Our Work to Theirs" RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Experience, 54 (2), (26 January 2015). |
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Make It Rain! Tips for Getting an ALA Grant |
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Ever wondered how you can improve your chances of getting an ALA grant? Need a refresher on the application process?
This short webinar from ALA will give you "a behind the scenes look at the ALA Public Programs Office grant process and help connect your library with innovating programs and impactful initiatives." |
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Featured Virginia Programs
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Fairfax County Public Library
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Summer Reading Murder Mystery Night |
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Each summer, Fairfax County Public Library staff perform a 3-act Murder Mystery show as part of our Summer Reading program. The show is completely written, directed, and acted by library staff from all over the county.
Attendees are invited to participate in determining "whodunnit" and solve the mystery by working in teams during act breaks. |
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The winning team earns a small prize (3D-printed trophy). This program occurs on a Friday evening in the library after the library closes (attendees enter the building specifically for the program). For best success, it is recommended to have a "producer" who can coordinate with staff and work on event logistics, a "director" to write the script and focus on the performance, enthusiastic staff actors/crew, and a dress rehearsal before the performance to practice run of show.
This is a low-cost program with expenses mostly going toward food for attendees, but it does require several hours of time from multiple staff members. It is recommended to start planning at least 3-4 months before the program to focus on script and gather interested staff. This is a very popular program with 70-80 attendees each year. |
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For more info, contact Will Osborne, william.osborne@fairfaxcounty.gov |
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Smyth County Public Library
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American Mahjongg at the Marion Public Library |
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From coast to coast, American Mahjongg is experiencing an explosive modern resurgence in homes and social gathering spots, including libraries. Often associated with the analog pastimes currently favored by younger generations, the captivating tile game boasts a deep, century-old history in American leisure.
Players in Marion, Virginia are falling in love with the game of sharp tactical strategy and sheer luck at the Smyth County Public Library.
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The program began with 6 players and two Mahjongg sets on Wednesday mornings, but demand to learn the game created need for an evening opportunity as well. The library now hosts up to 16 players and 4 game sets for Mahjongg Mornings at 10 a.m. and Mahjongg After Hours at 6 p.m. every Wednesday.
First brought from China to the United States in the 1920s, Mahjongg quickly became one of the biggest game fads in American history, dominating the social calendars of the Roaring Twenties. By 1937, the unique "American-style" rules were standardized with the creation of the National Mah Jongg League. Decades later, the clacking of tiles is still flying around community spaces. The Marion Public Library offers instruction for players new to the game and mentoring by seasoned players.
We are excited to have transformed a large number of absolute beginners into confident strategists including a few librarians from neighboring counties. The bustling atmosphere and lively conversation have proven this century-old game is still one of the most powerful tools for building real human connection--and all at the Marion Public Library. |
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For more info, contact Rachel Gibson, rachelg@scplva.net |
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Art Against Brutality with Claudia Bernardi |
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Claudia Bernardi is an artist whose artwork is impacted by war and post war periods.
In 2005, Bernardi founded Walls of Hope in a war zone in El Salvador, a community-based art, education, and human rights project that has been replicated in many countries around the world. She designs and facilitates collaborative art projects with survivors of political violence.
Art Against Brutality brings a much-needed contribution to the field of community arts.
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It outlines truly collaborative approaches, based on ideas from the community participants, rather than being shaped by the facilitating artist. Often the form of the art project is a mural, in which the participants decide on the theme and storyline. These collaborative, community-based art projects engage children, youth, and adults to converse and to find a common thread of intention.
Bernardi gave a talk about her debut book Art Against Brutality followed by a book signing and opportunity to meet the author. We had a local bookshop come in and sell books for us, and all of the copies sold out. They actually had to start a list for more copies.
There were at least 60 people in attendance; many of them were people Claudia already knew, but I'd say at least half came because the topic interested them and they'd never heard of the author. We did offer her $150 for the presentation. The information was heartbreaking but Claudia is so engaging about the project and the people she worked with, the audience was full of hope and enthusiasm afterwards. |
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For more info, contact Ali McCue, mccueab@ci.staunton.va.us |
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Recent articles on topics of interest to Adult Services |
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This newsletter is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is published by the Library of Virginia Library Development Division.
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